Rail-joint.



RfG. MUSGROVE.

RAIL JOINT. APPLICATION FILED AYE. 8,1909.

Patented Apr. 12,1910;4

ROBERT' ayMUsenov'n, OF GREENWOOD, MISSISSIPPI,

RAIL-JOINT.

Speciiication of LettersPatent.

Patentedapr. is, v1ero.

alip'ncatinlfniea 4pm s, i909. seriaiiiva 488,657'.

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Be itnltnoyvn that I, ROBERT G. Musoiiovn, a citizen fth' United States, residing at' Greenwood, in the county of Leiore and State of Mississipphu.liave'invented certain new 'and v.useful Improvements in Rail- Joints; and I do decla-re the following to be a full,l clear, and exact description of the invention, suoli as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to malte and use' the saine.

This invention relates to an improved rail joint and fastener designed as an rimprovement on my Patent 855,474 dated June 11, 1907.

The Object of ,the invention is to provide a rail fastener and brace embodying such a construction that the necessity of employing` angular bars and iisli plates is obviuvted and onevwhicli is ada ted to tightly hold and support rails an to withstand the great strain im osed on the outer railat a curve.

With this and other objects in View, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arranvement of parts as will be more fully described and particularly pointed outin the appended claim.

In the accompaiiyin drawings: Figure 1 is a t0 plan view o tlievdevice applied; Fig.2 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a perspec-v tive View of one member of the device` de-l taehediand, Fig. 5 is a similar view of the other member detached. f This improved rail brace'will also serv "asn tie lplate and will provide a much safer' track and prevent breaking, turning over and spreading of the rails. The rail joint being all inpne piece lessens the danger of the nuts and bolts becoming loose and will also reatly check creeping of the rails. This improved jointulso provides for the completing of the electrical circuit through the rails which is 'necessary' in a'block signal .system Without necessitating' the luse of a Wire connection.

In the embodiment illustrated a tie plate 1, is showncomposed of steel or any other suitablelile'tal providedetone end with an integral brace, having an angular bar-.3,

secured thereto.; preferably made integral 'with-the brace andeiztending on opposite sides' thereof, forming .latere y' extending arms'l Zif, and 5, having their inner faces shaped to lit one side of a rail with the top edge thereof extending' approximately flush withv the tread of the rail as is clearly shown in Fig. 4.v This member 1, is made in approximately L-shape form, the base-plate G eing designed to extend transversely under the rails and be secured to the tie hy means of spikes 7, which pass through the openings es 8, formed in said plates for this purpose. The arnisl, and 5, are provided with longitudinally spaced bolt apertures as 9, which. are adapted to register with similar openings formed in the meeting ends of the rails and in a plate 10, adapted to bel arranged on the op @site side of said rails and having its inner Face shaped to fit the sides of the rails with its' upper edges arranged slightl be neatli the head of the rail as is clearly s iown in Fig. 3. This plate l0, is also provided at its lower edge with longitudinally spaced notches as 11, with which the spikes 7, are adaptedto en age for securely holding'said plate against ongitudinal movement. This member 10 is in the form ofthe ordinary ish plate having longitudinally spaced apertures 12, for the passage ofbolts as 13, which also pass through. the registering apertures in the meeting rail ends and in the lateral arms .of the member 1 as above described.

In the use of this device thebase plate 6, of the mernherl, is extended under the meeting ends of the rails 14C, and 15, with the arms 4, and 5, closely -`itting against' one .faceor side osaid rails with the apertures 9, in said arms re istering with similar apertu'res'fori'ned in t e rail endst The'plate 10 is then arranged on the opposite sides ofthe rail ends and the bolts 13, are assed therethrough and secured in place y means of nuts 16. It will thus be seen that the integral block which forms the brace 2, willbe arranged opposite the space between the rail ends on the outer side ofthe rail and is adapted'to withstand the strain imposed 4on the 'outer rail especially at curves,

From 'the 'fore oing 'description taken in connection with tl e aecompanyin drawings,

' the constiuctionand operation othe invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form,-proportion 'and the minor'- det'ails of construction may 'be re'sortedfto-wthout departing from the ion . prisinga base plate sdupted to extend beneath rail ends, s, 'ointdrace on one side of.

said base plate an ada ted to extend flush with the to Aof the ra' s and to bridge the joints there etween, al1-'extension earned alt the top of said brace at' right angles to the major line of the base plate and adapted Vto [act as alish plate, said extension lying Hush with the'topoi Vthe 4brace and rails' and hnv- .ing apertures to receive'ettaching, bolts, said .senese 'i base Plete'hiivinvg nper'tures, and a fish p ate 4having a base coverin iiange with spike notches to register with t e apertures in the base plate lend bolt apertures to register with the a, erges in the extension, togetherwith bots parts inV proper relation. 'n

In testimony whereof I have hereuntoy set my hand in presence of two subscribing 4wit,- IIOSSQS.

4 y ROBERTPG. MUSGROVE. Witnesses: u

,CLINTON V. Envni, VWILLIAM G. Ynnenn.

2o'l .1d spikes to hold :the 

